Elvin Jones Speaks

 

Not a performance, but, an interview with the late, great drummer Elvin Jones and what jazz means to him, and as well as how he'd like to connect with his audience, giving of himself through music and spiritual commitment.  

1991 Japanese Interview with Elvin Jones. Born September 9, 1927, in Pontiac, MI; son of a Baptist deacon and lumber inspector; married; wife's name, Keiko. Many music critics regard Elvin Jones as the most influential drummer in the history of jazz. His revolutionary style transformed the drums as a traditional time-keeping instrument. Employing a multilayered, rhythmic approach, he created a dynamic interplay with soloists unprecedented by earlier drum stylists. Early in his career, Jones performed with such jazzmen as Charles Mingus, Bud Powell, Sonny Rollins, and Miles Davis. But it wasn't until he joined the John Coltrane Quartet in 1960 that Jones began to attract international recognition. During his six years with Coltrane's group, Jones contributed to some of the most celebrated recordings in the history of modern jazz. For over five decades, his innovative rhythmic technique served as a catalyst for drummers who seek greater improvisational freedom.